Man's best guru

Research has proven that owning a pet can lower your blood pressure, lift your spirits and even help you sleep better. Perhaps that's why pets are welcomed into the world of meditation.

James Jacobson, author of "How To Meditate With Your Dog" (Maui Media), believes that the quiet art of meditation can gently transform canine, as well as human lives.

The Hawaii-based writer and his Maltese, Maui, can often be found among the cliffs of the tiny Hawaiian island that is Maui's namesake, bonding through the peaceful art.

Jacobson, who teaches meditation, believes most dog owners already meditate with their pets -- when relaxing with them on the couch or stretched out on the floor. "Anyone can meditate," says Jacobson, adding that any dog can, too.

He offers the following basics to get started on a rejuvenating experience for both you and your pet:

Sit (or lie) in a comfortable place for both you and your dog.

Turn on some music, if you find that relaxing.

Place your hands on your dog's back.

Close your eyes and focus on your dog's breathing. Try to synchronize your breathing with that of your dog.

When thoughts come, let them go and refocus breathing.

Continue until you feel focused and relaxed.

Jacobson says meditation helps pet owners bond with their dog and can have other beneficial effects for "leaders of the pack," including increased awareness and an improved ability to focus.

And Jacobson is convinced that meditation is as restorative for pets as it is for humans.

When Maui turned 10, she was diagnosed with canine Sudden Acute Retinal Disease, a rare and normally incurable disorder of the eye in which the dog's body rejects the retina, resulting in blindness.

Through the dog's illness, Jacobson and Maui continued their daily meditations, and within a year the dog's sight returned and remains nearly fully restored.

"Maui's recovery was the catalyst that inspired the book," says the author, whose next release, "How To Meditate With Your Cat" is due in May.

Jacobson believes pets embody non-judgment and unconditional love, attributes that make them perfect partners for meditation.

"They also don't have scheduling conflicts," he jokes.

If you decide to try meditating with your dog, sessions as short as five minutes are OK to start with. "It's not supposed to be a chore, but a meaningful time between human and dog," Jacobson says, adding that it's sometimes the dogs that strongly resist meditation that benefit from it the most.